Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2013 6:48:55 GMT -5
Spoiler Alert
Story By: Spoiler and Batman(Robin III/Tim Drake)
Part One: Crime and Puzzlement
Spoiler: Dear Diary
What a sight to have to see at the breakfast table. Sitting there with that s***eating grin over the coco-pops in the morning. He might have THEM fooled and he might have mom fooled actually out of her stupor and about to burn the house down cooking … quotey fingers “Breakfast”. And he’s all “My little girl” this and “Darling Steffie” that, and “Crystal, my angel”, and everything’s going to be different from now on, because he’s going straight, And NOW we’re finally going to be a family. But behind it all, there’s that smile and the look in his eyes like fox or a rat and the sly snide creep of his lip I’ve seen a thousand times before. Please G_d I never become a liar like my father.
Oh wait... what am I saying?… I meant… Yay… Daddy’s home, and he’s ALL CURED!”. slash sarcasm close brackets. –c-
Spoiler: Stephanie put down the pen closed her diary and locked it, slipping it into her bag, no point in leaving clues for him! ‘All I inherited from YOU daddy was the hair, you won’t see this coming, you won’t see it in my eyes. I’ll watch you burn first. Because *I* know.’ She slung the bag onto her shoulder, heavy now with school books … and the stuff for after and rushing down the stairs she managed only a quick look into the lounge, mom slumped now on the sofa, still in her dressing gown, head back, mouth open and drooling, the pill bottle still open, and him, the rancid spider sitting in the middle of his web and smiling. She waved, he waved back, all jaunty like a real father would. ‘Oh what a happy family.’ She smiled “Bye Daddy.” And then she was out of the door –c-
By the time school let out it was already getting murky and by the time she was home mom was already in bed, sawing logs on a damp pillow, and on the fridge a note “Gone for a drink with your uncle Gary”. ‘Aww sweet. Daddy, you’re an idiot.’ She rushed to her room, unpacking her laptop and pulled out her cell phone… now to see if the cat tracker she’d got from Costco was working. GPS coordinates.. there he was… near where Vine met Robinson park, she pulled the purple cloth from her bag, jersey, just a basic catsuit, she’d sewn herself while mom slept in her downer and painkiller haze. Pulled on the cape, the black boots, gauntlets, sash and the belt with as many tricks and traps as she could afford with the allowance she’d saved and money from the lunches she’d not eaten. Finally she pulled the mask on, We’ll Steph, you’re one of them now, she flipped up the hood and slipped out again into the night. –c-
It was a long way by bike, or maybe it was just the fear and desperation to catch him before he moved, but there was the Taurus, he was there. Propping her bike against a tree she was onto the fireescape even quicker than she knew she could, it was amazing what nerves and adrenalin could do. And there on the 6th floor she paused hearing a voice she knew too well. She settled down to listen ‘I’ll stop you daddy, I’ll spoil everything you plan’ –e-
Tim Drake: {R} ‘I remember his words like it was yesterday. “Tim…in this work there is no room for mistrust. I need to count on you if you’re going to be in this *family.*” Before I got here there was a lot of damage. I finally was given access to the Batcomputer to confirm my thoughts…Dick Grayson was Robin. Jason Todd was Robin. Barbara Gordon was Batgirl. And *Batman* is *Bruce Wayne.* I recall his next instructions…”Since you are now Robin. I want you with me until I feel you are ready or until another emergency requires you to be Robin. Understood? You *do not* work alone, until I give you the clearance.” I understood him perfectly. He had taught me so much about being a detective…Forensic sciences, tricks of the trade that he explained, no *professor* or *teacher* could ever explain in a class room, mere experience could teach. I’m so grateful to have this job, to work with a man I…wish was my father. <c>
*Dad* is a good man, but honestly, he seems naïve to the world around him. I know when he smiles he believes I’m a good kid. He doesn’t doubt for *one second* I’m not visiting Ives. I’m not in danger. And I’m *not* working with a stranger.’ –Tim packed his laptop and placed it into his book bag. Wearing a white short sleeved shirt and blue jeans. Tim grabbed hold of his books of which one slipped out of his pile…’GREEN LANTERN VS TITANIUM MAN’ –Tim picked up the comic and slipped it into his book bag all of the weight crushed a red outfit with Kevlar padding. Black pants with similar padding were kept in a separate pouch. The bag wasn’t a typical book bag; it was a sport hiking bag meant for hiking and travel. Tim never fully loaded the bag down for weight and mobility reasons.- ‘Bruce: Tim…We need to talk…Tim: “Sure, Bruce. What’s up? <c>
Bruce: When I brought you on as Robin, I made a promise to myself…I wouldn’t allow you to go anywhere alone and without me by your side…But in light of the *Justice League* and it’s rising start. They’re going to *need me.* and I won’t be able to watch over Gotham all the time. I’m going to be heading to Boston, soon to work on a case. I left instructions for Alfred and Black Canary. If anything should happen, you can trust them. Tim…What I’m trying to say is…I think you’re ready to patrol Gotham. Radio in *anything* and let Alfred, Barb, or even Dick know, if you must. You’re not a combat specialist, but you know where your own weakness and strength is.’ –Tim was running down the street quickly rushing to catch the school bus. <c>
“Alright kids, calm down! We’re going to a museum of Pre-historic life. We have special tickets…” –Tim’s mind drifted to his friend Ives who was reading his own comic book “Wolvar vs Rage Man.” –Tim smiled at his friend.- “That’s a good one. What promotion card did you get inside that?” –Ives grinned and pulled out a card.- “Bullseye.” –Tim reached into his bag, his bare hand slipped past the black cowl with night vision goggles built into the visor. Tim pulled out the card. Grinning with the most devilish curl of his lips.- Tim: “Titanium Man.” Ives: “Titanium man? His only *real* superpower is that he has money.” Tim: “Hey, money can have it’s benefits.” Ives: “Right…You can by a million tickets to a Pre-historic museum. I wonder if they have a T-Rex here…” –Tim would shrug and say.- “I think they’re scarier than they look.” –Ives would chuckle.- “They’re just bones, Tim. Hehe.” -<c>
-Tim chuckled sheepishly.- “Right…just bones…” {R}
Spoiler: Her blood ran cold at the thought, it couldn’t be so, she hated him but even her wouldn’t risk so many innocents. She sat back on her heels. It was true. He was cured, he would do this all without a trail. Unless she could do something to stop him, and FAST. One night was all she had. ‘Think fast Steph, one night. Something sly enough it could be dad’s and simple enough they can figure it out‘. She slid down the escape sliding down, her feet clasping the sides and touching no steps until she dropped the last few feet. No time, she rushed to her bicycle and set off. Her heart pounded, think steph think but before she knew it she was looking at the building, tall and stark, great columns rising up in front of her, lawn lights shining up onto the gaunt structure. ‘Not much cover.’ She stepped back a moment looking for the security cameras –c-
Nothing was coming… no wonder dad’s plans all sucked ass, this stuff was hard, and so she wheeled her bicycle over to the small wooded area leaned her bike against the railings and sat, crossed legged on the grass to think. Idly going through her, she smiled to herself at the thought of calling it a utility belt. Stink bombs, smoke pellets, piano wire… she wasn’t sure why she’d brought that, spray paint, rope, a grapple her cell phone, a slingshot… maybe… she looked over at the bike… and maybe… it might just do. She looked up at the cameras, darn it they covered the whole front, unless… if they didn’t quite overlap so much, if the one to the right could be shifted, what 15 degrees? half a radian? No… less why handt she paid more attention in geometry? She picked up a pebble. Twang! A narrow miss, but the second hit and she saw the camera move, oh g_d she hoped no one was watching it, Another hit, another .. it had to be enough a narrow part of the stairs to the main doors should be obscured. –c-
This is it Steph, she rushed forward pulling out the spray, fast now she began to spray, a little bird on spindly legs a circle with a diamond shape on it, another circle with a straight line, a small stick animal with horns ‘oh g_d Steph, this looks like crap no one will be able to tell what this is’ and a bigger horned animal with a box on wheel behind it. ‘That’ll do’, she ran back into the trees, leaning hard against the tree. Just one more thing. She unwrapped it from the frame of her bike and ran, up the stairs to the gates barring the main door.. there will have to be something more but maybe it woill make a point. She wrapped the bike lock through the gates and locked it tight, nothing more than a dark fluttering shape on the edge of the cameras and then she was gone. –c-
He arrived home a couple of hours after she did, happy. ‘You rat’ She thought as she heard him blunder in, her mothers voice, slurred he knocked over something, her mothers voice telling him to get off, Curses. ‘I’ll see you burn Daddy’.
She looked at him across the breakfast table ‘I can match my smile to yours today daddy’, funny how it tasted sweeter even without the extra sugar today, and as she sauntered out of the door carrying that heavy bag again he called out “Love you pumpkin” she found herself calling back “Love you daddy”. –c-
She turned left out of the driveway as usual but this time she rode around the block and headed West back towards the scene of last night’s activity. It was open again of course, her lock no match for a simple set of bolt cutters, and a curator talking to the janitor already as they looked at the graffiti. She left her bike the same place as last night and headed past them just as the kids from the other schools were arriving, dropping the paper bag in the middle of the foyer as she entered. –e-
Tim Drake: {R} ‘I’m almost done school and hopefully, I’ll be able to focus more on being Robin.’ –Stepping off the bus, Ives and Tim walked past the front entrance, walking through metal detectors, Tim slowed his movements to take off his book bag and place it on an x-ray scanner. Tim went on pass the scanners and grabbed his bag, the security didn’t seem to care that he had a utility belt within his bag. Tim quickly put on the bag and looked at Ives.- “You know, I never really liked these things, but at the same time I think I’d rather be safe than sorry.” –Ives nodded slowly.- “Worried something with happen?” –Tim shook his head.- “No. Just, Bruce rubbing off on me. Paranoia. A dete-…erm…Nevermind. ” –Ives and Tim approached the large board in the center of the room that displayed the entire layout of the building. Tim took hold of a map and then pulled out his cell phone to snap a picture of it.- <c>
Tim Drake: -Ives and Tim were then given instruction by the teacher to hunt down and scavenger hunt for information regarding their homework.- “Mammals…Lets go and check out the Ice age section...We can work our way back towards he rear of the museum and come to the front before we have to leave…” “Good idea.” –Ives agreed and both boys began walking towards the rear of the museum, after walking for so long they would find that there were less and less people the further in they went.-{R}
Spoiler: Stephanie watched as streams of people entered, mainly school age, not much younger than herself, none seemed to be looking as the janitor wheeled his mop and bucket over towards her graffiti. “Oh good grief, it’ll be washed away before anyone looks at it’ She began to start feeling very frustrated and she turned sharply to see if anybody had noticed the bag. It had been kicked about 8 feet from where she left it, to the feet of two boys, one blond one with black hair, kind of cute actually. Nope they weren’t looking either. There couldn’t be much time now… she went over to collect the paper back glancing through the door she saw a silver Taurus.. surely he wasn’t that stupid? ‘No more time Steph’ –c-
Spoiler: She dashed down the corridor ‘til she found the washroom and then smashing the fire alarm she ducked inside. –e-
Tim Drake: -Clue Master arrived and spoke into his radio.- “Alright, let’s start this show.” –The front doors closed and locked, various chambers would seal as Janitors began locking doors and slipping out of sight. Security began arming batons glancing for any sign of trouble.- “What’s going on?” -TAK! TAK! TAK! Would sound off and each security guard were shot and killed by setup machine gun turrets.- “Everyone remain calm!” –Steph by now would notice that the fire alarm was cut and unable to signal the outside world. The museum windows were barred to prevent cat burglars and vandalism. The Museum was a large trap that required particular resources to obtain such a trap. Tim and Ives were just walking towards the Aquarium when the sound of gunfire drew Tim’s attention and Ives dropped to the floor.- ‘Oh gosh! That sounded like gunfire! I need to contact Batman…but I can’t with Ives here!” <c>
Tim Drake: -Tim grabbed Ives and then pulled out his batarangs.- “Listen, Ives. Keep a look out…I need to take out those security cameras.” –Ives raised an eyebrow.- “With what?” “Uh…um…A Sling shot…Just keeps your head down. The cameras might shatter with glass everywhere.” –Ives rolled his eyes and then listened as Tim’s eyes narrowed onto the first camera. Tim hurled the batarang causing it to slash through the plastic frame breaking the wiring inside. The batarang swung across the room and slashed into another camera before returning to Tim. He would hurl the batarang again and cut two more.- “Got them! Okay, Ives I need you to take cover in the bathroom, don’t touch anything and…”
<c>
Tim Drake: -Tim’s gaze would shift to the hallway where footsteps were approaching.- “Come on!” –Tim grabbed Ives and pulled him into the bathroom.- “Ives stay here and don’t go anywhere…” “What are you going to do?” “I’m…I’m going to try getting help.” “No way, I’m going with you.” “Ives, trust me. I need you to stay here. Read all my comic books. When you’re done, take my stuff to your house. I’ll get it later. I just need a few things from my bag…” –Finally Ives agreed and waited for Tim to suit up as Red Robin. Leaving before Ives could see Tim dressed as the Boy Wonder.-
Spoiler: Stephanie ducked into the washroom as soon as she smashed the alarm, skidding to a halt before she’d even reached a cubicle… nothing... no ear shattering alarm... nothing, except a muted sound from outside, a regular tapping, like a sprinkler. This was proving harder than she had ever imagined. The clues outside washed away, the clues inside ignored, everyone oblivious to the danger, it was no wonder the crooks like her dad and the psychos and all kinds of lowlife were so rife in Gotham, no one looked around, no one looked down, she went back to the door peering out. The tapping sound was louder in the hallway.. much louder, more like firecrackers… or… -c-
Spoiler: She ducked back into the washrooms, too late, already, daddy dearest was here already, and the sounds, the firecracker sounds, her stomach lurched, it sounded worse than she’d imagined, he had to be stopped, no matter what, with his sick little rat grin, too late for clues and games, she had to put him down. She ran then into the cubicle, skidding to a halt just inside and bolting the door behind her, changing out of her civilian clothes and into the costume. It felt strange to do this indaylight, strange and terrifying, but the put-put of gunfire pulled at her. As she pulled on the mask. ‘Too late to warn them Steph… but not too late to spoil his plans’. She bundled up her clothes, wrapped them in plastic and stuffed them behind the cistern before heading back out into the hall .–e-
Tim Drake: {R} –Red Robin dashed across the hallway where he saw the gates closed.- ‘These gates an electronic…’ –Red Robin slid the long device off the back of his belt and revealed to fold open in the shape of an “L” his thumbs took control of the device while he pointed the corner at the surrounding area of the gate.- “Come on…Come on…” –Suddenly the device squeaked quietly and the device indicated that it had locked onto a signal of electronic current. Red Robin wanted to jump in cheer but, at any moment goons could be on their way to investigate the broken cameras. He rolled his thumbs over the pads causing the device to unlock the gate. Red Robin slipped the device through to the other side of the gate and then he grabbed the gate to begin picking it up. <c>
Tim Drake: -His arms began tensing and straining as its weight was significant as well Tim was wrestling a difficult angle. Suddenly it would un-jam and slide open enough for him to slip through and close it. Grabbing the Cryptographic sequencer he looked around the aquarium before reaching his map of the museum.- “Security desk is located to the left of the main entrance. I bet however is behind this, THAT is where they’re controlling this whole thing.” ‘I need to search the parameter, find out how many men I’m dealing with. If I can get word to Batman, he’ll know what to do. Cluemaster settled amongst the security room, legs propped up on the desk. The janitors in utility outfits secured the hostages as he stroked his chin, all too much mimicking the Riddler. <c>
Tim Drake: “We got something here. Something broke the cameras…like a cat or something with claws.” “Claws? Well it’s no secret that Catwoman inhabits this city. Perhaps she is attempting her own heist. If you see her I want to talk with her. Until then, keep your eyes open and no one goes anywhere alone. Big Mac…” –Cluemaster called out to one of his men, code named.- “How is that negotiation thing working out?” “It’s almost up boss…” “Good. Proceed to part B of the plan.” “Gotcha sir.” –Part B was the preparation for the escape; half the group of people would be suited as hostages while the remainder would be sneaking out of a decoy loading dock hatch, balcony terrace, and a legitimate sewer exit as the primary escape-{R}
Spoiler: Crouching low, Stephanie darted into the corridor, still quiet, she’d expected there to be more panic by now, but here at least it was empty. She dashed then to the window, peeking nervously over the window sill to see the guns swing lazily sweeping the perimeter of the building. “Daddy.. you rat” she hissed “There are children in here, lots and lots of children.” She slumped down with her back to the wall. ‘With any luck one of those gungs will catch you between the eyes, Daddy’. Then she noticed the broken cameras. How had that happened Was this part of daddy’s plan? What didn’t he want anyone to see? The thought sent shivers down her spine? The … she hesitated to call him man… he’d put guns outside to shoot anything, adult or child that approached or tried to leave. –c-
Spoiler: She stood up to take a closer look, the casings smashed wires hanging loose, cut not shot? Maybe someone else was here? Where would Daddy be? She thought back to home, the creep slouched on the couch with the tube flickering in his g_dawful face ‘til all hours of the night, the scrapbooks, the moldering VHS tapes of Daddy when he’s been somebody, when people had known him .. for something other than this. Daddy will be where the TVs are! She set of at a run, just as a tall gangly blond boy started to ease his way out of the boys washroom, she barreled into the door knocking him back inwards “Stay IN! Stay DOWN!” –e-
Tim Drake: {R}-Ives would fall over and scream.- “Don’t SHOOT ME! I HAD TO GO TO THE BATHROOM! PLEASE DON’T SHOOT ME!!!” –The kid tried to appear as if he was crying. Holding up Tim’s bookbag as a method of defense and barrier between Spoiler and him. Meanwhile Red Robin walked along the catwalk above the museum- ‘Thank god for large dinosaurs…up here I can stay out of the way and take a head count.’ –Red Robin walked further spotting four men walking around patrolling, gathering hostages, he saw a couple of men moving a few more hostages.- ‘They’re gathering everyone up…typical strategy.’ –Red Robin spotted more security cameras that he would quickly arm his cryptographic sequencer and shut them down.- “Four guys, so far…And at least one in the security room.” <c>
Tim Drake: “What is their end game? What are they planning on doing?” –The looked up and saw a ventilation entrance, he narrowed his eyes and tapped his helmet, activating his detective vision, he took sight at the corridor that the ventilation followed.- “It may be risky…Who knows if he has booby traps in there…” –He jumped up and climbed inside creating a loud rumble as his body weight pressed against the aluminum frame of the vent.-{R}
Spoiler: She spun away from the door as it closed slowly on its pneumatic ram… seeing the tall boy stumble backwards,, books held high as if he thought she were attacking him, she turned to continue to run but something held her a moment and before it closed she found herself speaking gently “You’ll be ok, get in a cubicle, stand on the seat, and don’t say a word… to anyone. “ She turned to leave and then found herself turning back “AND keep this door CLOSED!” and she was running again, the corridors were too open, as she darted past cases of exhibits, scurrying as low as she could until she reached the main hall. –c-
Spoiler: A huge skeleton of a diplodocus hung in the main hall suspended on a steel frame hung n steel wires, she could wish to be higher, the view was poor, but she daren’t expose her position more. It wasn’t meant to be like this, a few clues to alert the authorities and then daddy, the rat, would be caught and it would all be just another bad dream. Now there were guns, God knows how many people shot, hurt, maybe dying… maybe dead… who knew… except the one man who deserved to be. She bit her lip. Peering out into the hall, men, lots of them, armed, rounding up the children, most even younger than her. She saw the big stupid one.. Czonk, another one she’d recognised from the apartment when she listened in. Others, she couldn’t quite tell, 4 maybe at least, but no sign of daddy. Where would security be? Near the entrance for quick deployment? Possibly. -c-
Spoiler: High up to get a better overview? Unlikely that’s what the cameras were for… she found herself looking up all the same, almost involuntarily, and there she saw a flash of red, disappearing into darkness. No… security would be near the entrance, and that’s where daddy would be in the centre of his web… and well protected, like a general leading his men ‘From ten miles behind the lines’ she though bitterly, there would be no way to him.. not like that.. not straight on. She had to thin the numbers, even the odds.. tease him out. What had the red been? Another of his men? Not likely they were big lumbering brutes. She watched them pushing grabbing children by the neck, one pushed a girl no more than twelve down the steps towards the main hall, causing her to stumble, fall, her leg twisting awkwardly, tears.. it was all she could do not to call out for them to stop. She ducked back behind the wall. –c-
Spoiler: “Come on Steph.. we need a plan.. he’;s always so good at plans.. maybe you inherited planning too” But deep down she knew she hadn’t. ‘Well… this sucks.’ –e-
Tim Drake: {R} ‘That’s five, six…seven.’ –Tim counted spotting a majority group of men.- ‘Not including our mystery guest controlling the security system. The police should’ve been here by now…’ –Red Robin pulled out his cell phone and saw that there was no signal.- ‘Even if I wanted to call Bruce…I couldn’t. It’s up to you, Tim…Gotta play this one smart…’ –Over the loud speaker a voice broke out from Cluemaster.- “Alright, go ahead and grab DS, MS, LX, and MC.” –The men began walking towards kids in the crowd, grabbing them while aiming their guns at the adults.- “Don’t fucking move or we’ll shoot!” –The men shuffled some as others kept their guns trained. The four children were then escorted by two men, the plan called for these kids to be brought into isolation while the outside man negotiated a deal.-<c>
Tim Drake: ‘I have to find out what is going on with those kids…And their call names…that’s not their real names…What significance do they have?’ –Red Robin climbed out of the ventilation as he thought about the names.-{R}
Spoiler: The PA system crackled overhead and brought her out of her funk, it made no sense, but then that was always Daddy’s style. She peeked around the corner again to see the thugs manhandling the children away guns waving recklessly towards the adults and children alike. It sent a shiver down her spine, guns, how she hated guns. He’d tried to tech her, when she was small, shooting birds with a BB, but it had always sickened her. The cluster f feathers falling, small black star shape on the ground, wings askew and neck bent back, eyes open, always eyes open, she had hated it, guns and death and the black shapes. How she wanted to step forward, to say ‘NO! No more!’ But she knew only too well the kind of men her father led.-c-
Spoiler: The codenames meant nothing, she’d not overheard that part.. she had to find some way to find an advantage… something… anything to reduce the imbalance. She needed to think.. and she needed to see, and so she slipped away, silently climbing the stairs to the next level, catching the framework supporting the domed roof and climbing noiselessly into the roof. The red again? Moving equally silently in the murk. One of her father’s men? If she could take them out one at a time, maybe that could even things up. She climbed higher –e-
Tim Drake: {R} –Spoiler was busy staring at the scene below that she wouldn’t realize a set of eyes watching her for a moment. Red Robin landed behind her his cape flapping upon hitting the edges of the platform of the catwalk. He was too late to sneak up on her, but Red Robin would smile.- “I never was a fan of Phantom of the Opera…Guess *you’re* the mastermind.” –Red Robin swung his boot aiming to kick Spoiler.- “Eat rubber!” –Red Robin called out swinging his leg to kick her in the stomach, if he was successful, he would using the advantage to spin and karate chop at her neck and shoulder joint. The noise from both of their rattling would no doubt stir the attention of the men below as they look up to see the two vigilantes coming to blows with each other.-<C>
Tim Drake: “Clue-mister…” “Clue…MASTER.” –Cluemaster corrected the goon with frustration in his voice while he was working the security systems that were failing. “What is it?” “We got…um. That Batman-Kid and some…guy in a pink hood.” “Well, clearly I didn’t hire them on this job. Take care of them both.” –{R}
Spoiler: She paused at the highmost catwalk crouching low so as not to be seen. The flash of red was around somewhere.. not daddy, he was ensconced in the dark somewhere under his rock, one of his goons? Too slick for that. The clang behind her was light when it came… whoever it was, they were good, or light, or both she stood as she began to turn, swinging her cape to distract whoever it was. ‘Mastermind? Not one of daddy’s men if they thought she was … maybe they could be of some help’ She opened her mouth to whisper, but ‘What’s that? rubber?’ She was still wondering about that when her assailant’s foot connected with her stomach, sending her down to the metal catwalk and back to the railings, with a much larger clang than before, as the wind was driven out of her before she could utter a word. –c-
Spoiler: It was hard catching her breath, red, it was the red figure, small, no taller than she was herself, but he packed a mean kick, red and black fluttered in front of her as she fought to regain her strength, gasping for air. Loutish voices below ‘Oh g_d they’ve heard us’ she tried to push herself up but he was coming again. –e-
Batman: {R} –Robin swung to hit her when a bullet sparked against his armor.- “Whoa!” –The boy wonders voice squealed out like an amateur. Red Robin grabbed Spoiler by the collar and pulled her to follow him. As they slipped through a doorway into another room, the catwalk proceeding into an Egyptian themed room. The goons began shuffling, rushing down a hallway to intercept them. Red Robin would attempt to push Spoiler into the railing where he would swing his fist aiming to punch her in the stomach, following the first strike he would try to punch her across the face with a right-hook his face was trying to seem tough, he had to make up for the fact Batman was away doing Justice League stuff. Protecting Gotham was on his shoulders, for at least a few days. Tim had to stay strong, hold out for as long as he could. There was no way this guy would get the better of him.- {R}
Spoiler: He was little but he pulled her up with uncanny ease, pulled her after him equally easily. They tumbled through the door into the next room, and as they cannoned off a sarcophagus she fought to gain some kind of hold on him. He was unreal, he seemed to know in advance every move she was going to make. He was slick, rolling out of her attempts to hold him as another blow caught her in the stomach ‘Owwww, this really hurts.’ He was slick and fast and tough for his size and she knew she was losing. ‘He’s Robin isn’t he? It has to be? He’s SO FAST! Maybe someone had seen the clues after all?’ She fought like a wild cat, flailing more in hope than in belief, her elbow catching his forearm just in time to deflect a right hook from connecting with her jaw and suddenly she found she had some kind of grip on him. Their feet tangled and she was going down again, and this time she felt like she had him, that he seemed to be going down too, and likely to land on top of her –e-
Batman: {R} –He swung ducking and dodging her attacks, her flailing maneuvers would be met by his wrists and palm shuffling her blows away from his face and body. It was then they fell off the catwalk and fell onto a third floor exhibit, where they continued to wrestle.- ‘He’s tireless. He keeps coming back. And his chest feels weird, almost like jello or…OH MY GOSH!’ –Red Robin took stance preparing for another bout of fighting when he realized Spoiler was a girl and his face began blushing.- “You’re a girl?“ –Red Robin cleared his throat.- ‘I touch her…Oh gosh, I hope dad doesn’t kill me…Or Bruce ground me.’ –Red Robin’s attention was taken away as gunshots shattered glass exhibits around Spoiler and Robin causing statues to break a part and collapse onto the ground, Red Robin ducked behind the sarcophagus while bullets sparked against the gold frame.-{R}
Spoiler: Stephanie rolled behind the sarcophagus with him and finally gathered enough breath to speak “Well DUH!” Maybe this wasn’t Robin? surely he’d be smart enough to have figured that out sooner? She squatted behind the sarcophagus with him a moment catching her breathe some more and then spotting the door behind them she flicked out a kick between his legs “And that’s for groping me!” Then she was turning and pulling on the handle… she’d contacted with something, she hoped it hurt too after those blows to her stomach. It opened, looked clear she rolled through and was running again. ‘Hmph! so much for the Boy Wonder’. She jumped, caught a beam and flipped up into the roof space ‘He can deal with the bullets’. But almost as soon as she thought it, she was beginning to regret the thought. –e-
Batman: {R} “Ow!” –he said as she beat him up with no retaliation given to her.- “I wasn’t…touching you…like *that*! It was just a shove.” –He grumbled when she slipped away, his eyes opened to see how fast she moved out of the way, it was then two goons surrounded Robin.- “Gotcha!” “Ever wanted to see what the inside of a brain looked like, Boy wonder?” –Red Robin glared at the men and snarked back at them.- “No. But I’m sure there isn’t much inside your brain!” –Robin brought his teeth to bear at the man as they were prepared to shoot him.- “Where’d your pink friend run off to?” –Red Robin scoffed.- “She’s not my partner.” ‘Shut up you idiot, gosh, I’m still thinking about that GIRL…I gotta get her out of my head or it’ll get me killed!’{R}
Spoiler: She squatted in the rafters a moment. He wasn’t following. She hadn’t kicked him that hard. He should be out of there by now. ‘Climb Steph! Get away from there’ ‘He should be out here by now’ ‘Leave him, what kind of boy kicks a girl in the stomach?’ Holding onto the rafter she dropped down silently and edged back to the door. Voices, they had him. She found herself reaching out, fingers trembling as she took the handle, and then she slammed it open rolled in behind it, hoping the noise would be a distraction, long enough to get her bearings at least, and hoping not to roll in front of a gun –e-
Batman: {R} ‘Loud banging?’ –The two men aimed their guns, foolishly to begin firing at the banging caused by Spoiler. Red Robin’s eyes widened.- ‘They’re trying to kill her!’ –Red Robin pulled puddy from his belt and threw it into the face of one goon, before dropping onto his hands and kicking the other goon in the stomach and slashed his chin with the heel of his boot. Red Robin jumped to his feet and kicked the blinded goon towards the railing, also disarming him in the process. Robin spun on his heels reaching to his belt pouch just above his butt to pull out his extending staff, pressing a switch the staff increased in length allowing his spin to whack the goon across the face before slamming the man into a statue. Both men fell onto the floor unconscious, as Robin turned to look at the rafters.- ‘I hope she’s alright…but if she’s not with them, who is she?’ {R}
Spoiler: By the time she stopped rolling they were down, and crying out in pain and fear, maybe it was Robin after all? She’d rolled behind the sarcophagus and now she peeped around the side, she could see him a little more clearly, but not for long there would be more men soon. She found herself smiling as he looked up into the rafters. He was cute, cute lips. He must have thought she went up there. Cute. Tough as nails, smart too, but kind of not so smart about somethings too. No that was unfair.. naïve maybe. She crawled out from behind the casing low enough not to be seen from the walkway and beckoning to him to follow her. “Come on handsome. We need to get out of here before the rest pile in.” And this time running out into the corridor and leaping for the rafters, there was no guilt pulling her back. –e-
Batman: {R} –Red Robin didn’t have his hair exposed, however; his ripe red lips and a youthful chin could be seen. His red tunic made his body appear muscular as it was pushed out in the right places where his abs and breasts were toned. His voice was the primary thing that displayed his youth, ranging somewhere between 14 and 16 years old, biologically; he had just turned 16 only a few months ago. He heard Spoiler’s voice call out to him and he blinked before his blue eyes widened.- “Whoa, wait…Who are these guys? Do you know what’s going on here?” –Red Robin picked up the guns and quickly pulled out the springs to the guns and then placed them in his belt pouches. He followed her crouching down and speaking softly as if trying to be sneaky.-{R}
Spoiler: She turned and watched as he followed leaping after her once they were away from the room. She noticed he’d brought the guns, but couldn’t help hoping he wouldn’t use them. She reached out a hand to help him into the rafters with her, but he didn’t need it and in an instant he was beside her. She couldn’t understand why but she found herself smiling under her mask. “Honestly, most of them I don’t know. They’re men my da…… the Cluemaster has put together. I know the big lunk by the main door, the one that looks like a tank… that’s Czonk. He’s an idiot,,, the rest? Gun’s for hire as far as I know. Hopefully no brighter.“ She watched him “You don’t have any clue what’s going on? No one sent you? Good grief… did anyone even look at my clues?” she though back to the lobby, the scribbles outside being washed away. “All I know is there are people here, he wants to kidnap. But I don’t know who.” –e-
Batman: {R} –Listening to her speak, he slanted his right eye skeptically at her.- “Clues? Who are you?” –Red Robin leaned closer to her face as if trying to glimpse through her bright white eyes, when the voice caught his attention.- “God damn it…I tell you guys not to do something stupid and you think I’m joking? Do you guys want to make money or spend 5 years in prison?” –Red Robin turned to look back at her.- “Cluemaster?”-He said blinking not realizing how close he was to her face. His voice remained quiet, whispering. Cluemaster’s voice was echoing from a radio on a goons belt.- “Boss, we got the kids rounded up.” “Good. Finally good news, start setting the explosives in the aquarium.” –Red Robin’s eyes widened hearing those words.- “Ives…He’s in the bathroom by the Aquarium. ”{R}
Spoiler: She didn’t answer, she didn’t know who she was, just who she didn’t want to be. He was so close, even through the mask she could feel his breath, oh gosh, she tried to catch her breath, was it the fear, the strain of still recovering from the kick, the punch. The thought of it made her feel like kicking him between the legs again. Then as he asked about the Cluemaster she turned and finally nodded ‘yep that’s daddy alright’ she thought though it made her sick to her stomach to think of it. At Robin’s words concerning the bathroom by the aquarium? “Ives? Tall blond geeky boy? I told him to stay put and hide!” –e-
Tim Drake: {R} –Red Robin’s eyes opened as she explained that she met Ives.- “I told him to stay put too…Come on, we gotta help him.” –He swiftly dashed off running towards an edge he leaped into the air reaching to grab hold of a frame hanging from the ceiling, his gloves gripping onto it as his legs swept under his body and he front flipped forward , spinning twice before his feet hit the ground and he was crouching like an acrobat. He rolled immediately upon hitting the ground and bounced to his feet to run down the empty hallway, parallel to the route the goons were taking. By the time they arrived, they would see the goons already planting explosives on the water tanks. Red Robin stopped by an archway where he peered around the corner to observe.- “I took out the cameras already. They shouldn’t know we’re coming.” {R}
Spoiler: He was gone practically before he’d finished his sentence, and before she could reply, the leap to the frame was too far to follow and by the time she’d reached the ground she was already several paces behind, racing after him, finding she was thinking of other things than stopping ad.. like when his cape swung as he rang he looked kind of… toned. Her heart was still racing, she’d wanted to stop daddy so much, been so afraid of what could happen, of facing him alone knowing the monster he was… she hadn’t counted on help… she hadn’t counted on Robin showing up… on him being kind of cute… on actually having fun. –c-
Spoiler: She was still thinking that and watching his behind when she realized he’d stopped to watch the thugs. She skidded to a halt, bumping into him rather firmly ‘See Steph, its not just appearances, he’s taut‘ She leant against his back one hand resting on one of his shoulders, her chin on the other as she peered over it and watched with him. ‘Big guys, more guns, big guns… and… big bombs.’ She felt sick again at the realization her father was behind all this, and she leaned a little more firmly against Robin “What’re we going to do, Bird Boy?’ she whispered close to his ear. –e-
Tim Drake: {R} ‘They’re using C-4…There are other kinds of explosives they could use and get the same effect. C-4 creates a loud resonating sound. What are they planning, aside from turning the entire museum into a lake?’ –Red Robin thought to himself as he felt Spoiler touching him, he didn’t notice it or seem to care as his attention was focused on being a detective.- “They’re using explosives, if we go in there now, they could blow us all up…I’m thinking about disarming them. They have to leave first, and Ives can’t be stupid.” –Robin looked at her with a glance over his shoulder, not seeming to notice her still lingering her black face onto his shoulder.- “C-4 has a few metal plugs put into it, all we have to do is pull out the electrical wiring and we’ll disarm it. If I show you, think you can help me do it?” <c>
Tim Drake: -Red Robin looked around the room again.- “Hmm…They did their planning, that’s for sure. The Aquarium is the most isolated part of the entire building. It runs directly into Gotham’s East bay, at least 30 miles of ocean along the coast…” –Red Robin explained to her and slightly to himself. For some reason he felt like he was narrating a story for readers to follow along with, shaking the thought from his head.- {R}
Spoiler: Stephanie continued leaning on him, ‘So what was daddy up to?’ she could feel her heartbeat as she pressed against his back. “So let’s try and reason this out? It was today because of the school trip… and the children he wanted to kidnap would be here together? The aquarium? Runs into the bay … so presumably the exit is intended to be by boat? The bombs…?” She shuddered at the thought…and all the other children... the children he DIDN’T want. And…. what was going to happen when word got out? For the moment they were still isolated, just the two of them against daddy and his goons… it was quiet now… but what happens when the SWAT teams get here? The bombs looked awfully large. –e-
Tim Drake: {R} –Tim listened to her speak, he thought for a moment.- ‘She’s drawing conclusions out of thin air…So far, there is *nothing* to support that this is happening because of the school trip…Still, she’s at least trying harder than you are right now!’ –Red Robin stroked his chin.- “I’m not sure this is because of the class trip. He…Who’s ‘He’?” –Red Robin was becoming confused, to him the voice of Cluemaster was nothing more than another henchman. To Spoiler it was the voice of Stephanie Brown’s father, the mastermind behind this whole event, needless to say, the boy wonder was beginning to get skeptical of her, but he really didn’t have anything to pin her with other than jumping to conclusions with no supporting facts.-{R}
Spoiler: Stephanie paused a moment, the last thing she wanted to do was talk about him, she’d spent enough time, more than enough time talking about the creep, ten times too much time looking at him, even with the years he’d spent locked up. A million times too much time putting up with eth wreckage he’d wrought on mom, on everyone. She pulled away taking a step back, her hands clasped to prevent herself from fidgeting, her head lowered. “He’s Arthur Brown, sometimes called ‘The Cluemaster’. I don’t know if you’re heard of him, he’s been out of the way for a while, maybe he’s even small enough to be below your radar, but he’s a big enough rat to have hurt a lot of people and ruined a lot of lives.” She wanted to look up but she found she couldn’t meet Robin’s gaze. It wasn’t… she knew it wasn’t her fault who he was, where she came from… but she couldn’t help but feel the shame of him. –e-
Batman: {R} -Red Robin looked at her as she placed her head down, analyzing her. Red Robin was a bit taken back by her actions now, but he couldn’t help thinking about Batman. He was a brute, his objective was to scare criminals and coerce them from a life of crime. Physically beating them up, ruining their plans, sabotaging their organized plots. He wasn’t good at moments like this, Bruce’s reaction would probably be something like “Your personal life ends the moment you put on the suit.” But, that was unrealistic. Bruce and Batman know that it is unrealistic. Robin’s role in Batman’s life is to fill in and make up for the ‘flaws’ in Batman…or at least that was the objective of *this* Robin.’ –Red Robin placed his hand on Spoiler’s shoulder and bicep, allowing her to feel a gentle touch.- “Hey…There’s no doubt he’s a bad man…We’ll stop him.” <c>
Batman: “And when we do stop him, I’m sure whatever pain he’s caused you and your family…at least the chapter will be closed…” –He smiled at her to reassure her this was going to end in a good light.-{R}
Spoiler: Stephanie raised her head at his touch grateful for the reassurance, feeling the shame lift a little, at least she was trying, trying to prevent him wreaking more destruction, on more… he hesitated a moment… on more innocents. It did help… Robin’s smile, and she found herself beginning to smile again too as she had when they were running. “We’ll spoil his plans, and make sure he doesn’t hurt anyone else.” She wondered if Robin could tell she was smiling underneath her mask. “I followed him” she stopped again “…I followed him last night, tried to listen, but I didn’t find out enough, all I know is that he intended to kidnap some ‘brats’ here ... today. I had hoped to leave some clues to try and warn people, to give them some idea what was happening, but either they went unnoticed or they weren’t helpful. They were stupid anyway…” She almost laughed a moment, a sharp exhale and a quick inhale partway between a laugh and a sob. “I’m kind of new to all this.” –e-
Batman: {R}-Red Robin smirked at her attempts to signal others.- “Well, that’s a relief, at least I’m not the *only* one new to this.’ –Red Robin placed his hand on his hip and spoke.- “Don’t worry, it takes practice. You’ll get the swing of things.” –His face then changed into a sober expression.- “But first we gotta stop these creeps…” –He turned to look around the corner as the men began finishing up their bombs they picked up their radios.- “Alright. Charges set. Start bringing in the people.” Cluemaster: “Good, make sure they are locked in the gates, seal the gate with an explosive.” “Got it.” –The men quickly shuffled out of the room, and Robin waved for her to follow at which point he rushed into the first bomb and began showing her.- “See these prongs? Just…” –He pulled out the electric plugs and pocketed them into his belt.- “Just like that. Without the electrical charge, they won’t explode.” <c>
Batman: -Red Robin looked at her and smiled.- “It looks like they have quite a few…just. Look around and disarm as many as you can…” –He walked over to another bomb and began defusing it.- “So …Uh…Red hood…er-uh…PINK hood…Hm. We gotta work on a name for you, don’t we Spoiler-girl?” {R}
Spoiler: She watched very carefully as he indicated the electrical connections, as he pulled them out, it looked easy “ I can do that “ and she started in the opposite direction, here was another, she began to pull out the connections. “I’m not to keen on pink hood… it sounds kind of… wrong, besides it was meant to be magenta. “ she moved over to another of the bombs. “I made it myself you know? I’m kind of wishing I’d gone for something darker though, more like a purple or… or an aubergine... you know? Eggplant?” She tucked the electric plugs into her pouch. “Don’t you ever worry about the bright colours? Am I babbling?” She began to scout around for another of the bombs “Is it ok to leave them here even without the... these things” she crouched down at another of the bombs. “I kind of like that other thing you said. Spoiler-girl… ‘cause of the double meaning. Trying to do those clues about what he was going to do… and to spoil it” –c-
Spoiler: Spoiler: Her brow furrowed. “Probably should have just called the cops or something huh? Instead of trying to be all clever and leave clues. I’m not sure I like the ‘girl’ part. It’s not like I’m little anymore. How about...Spoiler? THE Spoiler? Naahh, just Spoiler” –e-
Batman: {R}“Hmm...I think the bright colors aren’t that bad. Maybe a bit darker…You want to be approachable sometimes. That’s Batman’s problem. He’s *never* approachable.” –Red Robin disarmed a couple more throughout their brief conversation. Once he was done he arrived at her and looked around.- “I think we got them all…I’ll get Ives.” –Red Robin walked towards the bathroom opening the door and spoke.- “Hey, Ives. Come on out. We gotta get you out of here. Your-…uh…Friend, Tim said you can trust us.” -Ives stepped out and looked at both of them.- “Is it safe?” –Red Robin shook his head.- “No. But coming with us is the safest thing we can do. They placed bombs.” –Ives’ expression was filled with surprise.- <c>
Batman: -Red Robin held his hand up.- “Just keep quiet. We disarmed most of them.” –Red Robin turned to Spoiler and spoke.- “Have you found any way to get out of this place? And do you know how many goons we’re up against?” {R}
Spoiler: Those were kind of obvious questions, she really should have thought of them.. particularly about a way out, why hadn’t she thought of that? “I kind of hoped people wouldn’t come in, I hadn’t thought about how to get back out. There’s so many people here now too, we can’t get them all out, not on the sly.” She paused feeling kind of foolish. “And… I don’t know how many there are of them, I overheard four at the meeting, but they were expecting more, I’ve seen ummm seven, maybe eight, around the place. So including da….” she winced “including da Cluemaster” ouch that sounded phony, “that’s at least 9. Cluemaster won’t be putting himself on the line though, he’ll be sitting on a throne twiddling his fingers and watching his minions.” She gestured towards the disabled camera “where he can.” –e-
Batman: {R} –Red Robin stroked his chin listening to this new information.- ‘Think, Tim! Start acting like a Robin. Come up with *something!*’ –Red Robin looked over the ceiling and smirked.- “We took down three of them…Assuming there are 9…that only leaves six. Planting explosives in here, we saw three men, that means three others are watching the hostages…We missed our opportunity to strike them in separate numbers…We gotta find those kids they split from the group.” –Red Robin pointed towards Ives.- “First objective is the isolated hostages. Spoiler, you’re going to keep these guys chasing shadows while Ives gets the hostages. If you get into a trouble, let me know.” –Red Robin pulled off his belt a communication device that he handed to Spoiler.- “Speak and I will hear you. It has a tracking device in it. I’ll find you.” –Red Robin turned his head to Ives.- “You and I will get the isolated hostages.”<c>
Batman: -Red Robin looked between both of them and inquired.- “Everyone understand their roles?” ‘I hope this works…I’m not Batman, I can’t form a plan together like he can…but this is the best thing I can do given the situation…Gosh I hope I’m doing the right thing.’ {R}
Spoiler: She nodded taking the communicator slightly greedily ‘oh my gosh, actual bat tech’ she caught herself wanting to hold onto it tight, like Gollum’s precious ring, and looked up at Robin rather sheepishly. “Got it, Skip!” She rolled up her mask then just up to her nose so that she could reach under to slip the earpiece into her ear, long blonde hair slipping out from underneath her mask, she hurriedly tucked it back in again, pulling the mask again down over her mouth. “I’ll see you boys later.” She turned as if to run, but paused a moment pressing her finger to her ear “Testing?” she started to walk away from them “Ives, stay close to him.” Slowly picking up speed as rushed away … hoping for Robin’s response, the reassurance of his voice. –e-
Batman: {R} “I got -- ^you.” –Red Robin’s voice spoke, and suddenly cracked, causing his cheeks to suddenly blush underneath his cowl. Ives smirked for a moment.- “Is she your girlfriend?” –Red Robin’s face turned sour.- “Shut up…She’s not my girlfriend.” –Ives then smirked.- “I wonder if she’s got a boyfriend…” –Robin began rushing down the hallway.- “Come on.” ‘Oh how embarrassing. Of all the times for my voice to break down. Now I got Ives trying to hook up with a strange vigilante girl. She could be ugly…like…really ugly. Girls in Gotham aren’t pretty…except the ones Bruce dates. But they’re like too old. 20’s and 30 years old…’ –Red Robin’s attention snapped to a group of goons walking into a room where he saw the hostages isolated from the main group.- “Shh. Follow me…” <c>
Batman: -Ives and Robin ducked behind a pillar and glanced around to see two men watching the hostages aiming their guns at the kids.- “Here’s the plan…” –Red Robin pulled out his bow staff.- “You stay here. Follow in after I take out both men.” –Red Robin stormed around the corner without waiting confirmation from Ives. Red Robin leaped at the first goon crushing their cheek with the edge of his staff, Red Robin’s body and weight wasn’t heavy enough to knock the goon over like Batman could, however; the crackling of the man’s face forced him to tumble while giving Robin a solid body to kick off of and back flip. His cape spread open as he landed while twirling his staff to slap the gun away from the second goon. Twirling the front end of the staff towards the ceiling, the back end swung up and upper cut the goon’s chin clacking his jaw and throwing him backwards.- {R}
Spoiler: She was running now as she finally heard is voice, as it cracked, she wondered if that was his voice or the connection she slowed and held her ear, his voice came through loud and clear “…she’s not my girlfriend!” She started to pick up pace again smiling. ‘Maybe… maybe not Bird Boy!’ She was still thinking of Robin when she nearly ran into the open in the main hallway, catching her thoughts at the last minute only as she saw the giant skeleton. She skidded to a halt, grateful her boots didn’t squeak too loudly. The skeleton was awfully tempting, what she wouldn’t give right now for a batarang to cut the cables suspending it. She peered around the corner two more of dad’s men pushing the last of the ‘unwanted kids into the crying shivering crowd in the main hall. She felt her blood beginning to boil again. Two down there with the children, dad in security, three more somewhere, at least, and suddenly she knew where one was as he climbed the stairs from the main hall to the walkway on which she stood. Czonk… the Baffler, at least he was an idiot. She took off at pace, reaching him before the barrel of his gun raised even to waist height, her foot contacting with his forehead just as his finger, tangled in a piece of paper reflexively pulled on the trigger. –c-
Spoiler: Czonk went down hard, and she landed on his chest, not heavily enough to wind him. The shot did more than she’d hoped hitting the mounting of one of the cables supporting the skeleton and causing the end of the skeleton to drop suddenly and very loudly. Czonk was trying to raise up again beneath her, but a knee to the jaw sent him back down. The noise was loud both the shot and the collapse of the skeleton, it had attracted attention, what was that paper the brute’s finger was poking through as he’d tried to fumble for the trigger, she tore it from his hand as the bullets began to fly again. ‘Doodles? What the?’ She tried to decipher them as she ran –e-
Story By: Spoiler and Batman(Robin III/Tim Drake)
Part One: Crime and Puzzlement
Spoiler: Dear Diary
What a sight to have to see at the breakfast table. Sitting there with that s***eating grin over the coco-pops in the morning. He might have THEM fooled and he might have mom fooled actually out of her stupor and about to burn the house down cooking … quotey fingers “Breakfast”. And he’s all “My little girl” this and “Darling Steffie” that, and “Crystal, my angel”, and everything’s going to be different from now on, because he’s going straight, And NOW we’re finally going to be a family. But behind it all, there’s that smile and the look in his eyes like fox or a rat and the sly snide creep of his lip I’ve seen a thousand times before. Please G_d I never become a liar like my father.
Oh wait... what am I saying?… I meant… Yay… Daddy’s home, and he’s ALL CURED!”. slash sarcasm close brackets. –c-
Spoiler: Stephanie put down the pen closed her diary and locked it, slipping it into her bag, no point in leaving clues for him! ‘All I inherited from YOU daddy was the hair, you won’t see this coming, you won’t see it in my eyes. I’ll watch you burn first. Because *I* know.’ She slung the bag onto her shoulder, heavy now with school books … and the stuff for after and rushing down the stairs she managed only a quick look into the lounge, mom slumped now on the sofa, still in her dressing gown, head back, mouth open and drooling, the pill bottle still open, and him, the rancid spider sitting in the middle of his web and smiling. She waved, he waved back, all jaunty like a real father would. ‘Oh what a happy family.’ She smiled “Bye Daddy.” And then she was out of the door –c-
By the time school let out it was already getting murky and by the time she was home mom was already in bed, sawing logs on a damp pillow, and on the fridge a note “Gone for a drink with your uncle Gary”. ‘Aww sweet. Daddy, you’re an idiot.’ She rushed to her room, unpacking her laptop and pulled out her cell phone… now to see if the cat tracker she’d got from Costco was working. GPS coordinates.. there he was… near where Vine met Robinson park, she pulled the purple cloth from her bag, jersey, just a basic catsuit, she’d sewn herself while mom slept in her downer and painkiller haze. Pulled on the cape, the black boots, gauntlets, sash and the belt with as many tricks and traps as she could afford with the allowance she’d saved and money from the lunches she’d not eaten. Finally she pulled the mask on, We’ll Steph, you’re one of them now, she flipped up the hood and slipped out again into the night. –c-
It was a long way by bike, or maybe it was just the fear and desperation to catch him before he moved, but there was the Taurus, he was there. Propping her bike against a tree she was onto the fireescape even quicker than she knew she could, it was amazing what nerves and adrenalin could do. And there on the 6th floor she paused hearing a voice she knew too well. She settled down to listen ‘I’ll stop you daddy, I’ll spoil everything you plan’ –e-
Tim Drake: {R} ‘I remember his words like it was yesterday. “Tim…in this work there is no room for mistrust. I need to count on you if you’re going to be in this *family.*” Before I got here there was a lot of damage. I finally was given access to the Batcomputer to confirm my thoughts…Dick Grayson was Robin. Jason Todd was Robin. Barbara Gordon was Batgirl. And *Batman* is *Bruce Wayne.* I recall his next instructions…”Since you are now Robin. I want you with me until I feel you are ready or until another emergency requires you to be Robin. Understood? You *do not* work alone, until I give you the clearance.” I understood him perfectly. He had taught me so much about being a detective…Forensic sciences, tricks of the trade that he explained, no *professor* or *teacher* could ever explain in a class room, mere experience could teach. I’m so grateful to have this job, to work with a man I…wish was my father. <c>
*Dad* is a good man, but honestly, he seems naïve to the world around him. I know when he smiles he believes I’m a good kid. He doesn’t doubt for *one second* I’m not visiting Ives. I’m not in danger. And I’m *not* working with a stranger.’ –Tim packed his laptop and placed it into his book bag. Wearing a white short sleeved shirt and blue jeans. Tim grabbed hold of his books of which one slipped out of his pile…’GREEN LANTERN VS TITANIUM MAN’ –Tim picked up the comic and slipped it into his book bag all of the weight crushed a red outfit with Kevlar padding. Black pants with similar padding were kept in a separate pouch. The bag wasn’t a typical book bag; it was a sport hiking bag meant for hiking and travel. Tim never fully loaded the bag down for weight and mobility reasons.- ‘Bruce: Tim…We need to talk…Tim: “Sure, Bruce. What’s up? <c>
Bruce: When I brought you on as Robin, I made a promise to myself…I wouldn’t allow you to go anywhere alone and without me by your side…But in light of the *Justice League* and it’s rising start. They’re going to *need me.* and I won’t be able to watch over Gotham all the time. I’m going to be heading to Boston, soon to work on a case. I left instructions for Alfred and Black Canary. If anything should happen, you can trust them. Tim…What I’m trying to say is…I think you’re ready to patrol Gotham. Radio in *anything* and let Alfred, Barb, or even Dick know, if you must. You’re not a combat specialist, but you know where your own weakness and strength is.’ –Tim was running down the street quickly rushing to catch the school bus. <c>
“Alright kids, calm down! We’re going to a museum of Pre-historic life. We have special tickets…” –Tim’s mind drifted to his friend Ives who was reading his own comic book “Wolvar vs Rage Man.” –Tim smiled at his friend.- “That’s a good one. What promotion card did you get inside that?” –Ives grinned and pulled out a card.- “Bullseye.” –Tim reached into his bag, his bare hand slipped past the black cowl with night vision goggles built into the visor. Tim pulled out the card. Grinning with the most devilish curl of his lips.- Tim: “Titanium Man.” Ives: “Titanium man? His only *real* superpower is that he has money.” Tim: “Hey, money can have it’s benefits.” Ives: “Right…You can by a million tickets to a Pre-historic museum. I wonder if they have a T-Rex here…” –Tim would shrug and say.- “I think they’re scarier than they look.” –Ives would chuckle.- “They’re just bones, Tim. Hehe.” -<c>
-Tim chuckled sheepishly.- “Right…just bones…” {R}
Spoiler: Her blood ran cold at the thought, it couldn’t be so, she hated him but even her wouldn’t risk so many innocents. She sat back on her heels. It was true. He was cured, he would do this all without a trail. Unless she could do something to stop him, and FAST. One night was all she had. ‘Think fast Steph, one night. Something sly enough it could be dad’s and simple enough they can figure it out‘. She slid down the escape sliding down, her feet clasping the sides and touching no steps until she dropped the last few feet. No time, she rushed to her bicycle and set off. Her heart pounded, think steph think but before she knew it she was looking at the building, tall and stark, great columns rising up in front of her, lawn lights shining up onto the gaunt structure. ‘Not much cover.’ She stepped back a moment looking for the security cameras –c-
Nothing was coming… no wonder dad’s plans all sucked ass, this stuff was hard, and so she wheeled her bicycle over to the small wooded area leaned her bike against the railings and sat, crossed legged on the grass to think. Idly going through her, she smiled to herself at the thought of calling it a utility belt. Stink bombs, smoke pellets, piano wire… she wasn’t sure why she’d brought that, spray paint, rope, a grapple her cell phone, a slingshot… maybe… she looked over at the bike… and maybe… it might just do. She looked up at the cameras, darn it they covered the whole front, unless… if they didn’t quite overlap so much, if the one to the right could be shifted, what 15 degrees? half a radian? No… less why handt she paid more attention in geometry? She picked up a pebble. Twang! A narrow miss, but the second hit and she saw the camera move, oh g_d she hoped no one was watching it, Another hit, another .. it had to be enough a narrow part of the stairs to the main doors should be obscured. –c-
This is it Steph, she rushed forward pulling out the spray, fast now she began to spray, a little bird on spindly legs a circle with a diamond shape on it, another circle with a straight line, a small stick animal with horns ‘oh g_d Steph, this looks like crap no one will be able to tell what this is’ and a bigger horned animal with a box on wheel behind it. ‘That’ll do’, she ran back into the trees, leaning hard against the tree. Just one more thing. She unwrapped it from the frame of her bike and ran, up the stairs to the gates barring the main door.. there will have to be something more but maybe it woill make a point. She wrapped the bike lock through the gates and locked it tight, nothing more than a dark fluttering shape on the edge of the cameras and then she was gone. –c-
He arrived home a couple of hours after she did, happy. ‘You rat’ She thought as she heard him blunder in, her mothers voice, slurred he knocked over something, her mothers voice telling him to get off, Curses. ‘I’ll see you burn Daddy’.
She looked at him across the breakfast table ‘I can match my smile to yours today daddy’, funny how it tasted sweeter even without the extra sugar today, and as she sauntered out of the door carrying that heavy bag again he called out “Love you pumpkin” she found herself calling back “Love you daddy”. –c-
She turned left out of the driveway as usual but this time she rode around the block and headed West back towards the scene of last night’s activity. It was open again of course, her lock no match for a simple set of bolt cutters, and a curator talking to the janitor already as they looked at the graffiti. She left her bike the same place as last night and headed past them just as the kids from the other schools were arriving, dropping the paper bag in the middle of the foyer as she entered. –e-
Tim Drake: {R} ‘I’m almost done school and hopefully, I’ll be able to focus more on being Robin.’ –Stepping off the bus, Ives and Tim walked past the front entrance, walking through metal detectors, Tim slowed his movements to take off his book bag and place it on an x-ray scanner. Tim went on pass the scanners and grabbed his bag, the security didn’t seem to care that he had a utility belt within his bag. Tim quickly put on the bag and looked at Ives.- “You know, I never really liked these things, but at the same time I think I’d rather be safe than sorry.” –Ives nodded slowly.- “Worried something with happen?” –Tim shook his head.- “No. Just, Bruce rubbing off on me. Paranoia. A dete-…erm…Nevermind. ” –Ives and Tim approached the large board in the center of the room that displayed the entire layout of the building. Tim took hold of a map and then pulled out his cell phone to snap a picture of it.- <c>
Tim Drake: -Ives and Tim were then given instruction by the teacher to hunt down and scavenger hunt for information regarding their homework.- “Mammals…Lets go and check out the Ice age section...We can work our way back towards he rear of the museum and come to the front before we have to leave…” “Good idea.” –Ives agreed and both boys began walking towards the rear of the museum, after walking for so long they would find that there were less and less people the further in they went.-{R}
Spoiler: Stephanie watched as streams of people entered, mainly school age, not much younger than herself, none seemed to be looking as the janitor wheeled his mop and bucket over towards her graffiti. “Oh good grief, it’ll be washed away before anyone looks at it’ She began to start feeling very frustrated and she turned sharply to see if anybody had noticed the bag. It had been kicked about 8 feet from where she left it, to the feet of two boys, one blond one with black hair, kind of cute actually. Nope they weren’t looking either. There couldn’t be much time now… she went over to collect the paper back glancing through the door she saw a silver Taurus.. surely he wasn’t that stupid? ‘No more time Steph’ –c-
Spoiler: She dashed down the corridor ‘til she found the washroom and then smashing the fire alarm she ducked inside. –e-
Tim Drake: -Clue Master arrived and spoke into his radio.- “Alright, let’s start this show.” –The front doors closed and locked, various chambers would seal as Janitors began locking doors and slipping out of sight. Security began arming batons glancing for any sign of trouble.- “What’s going on?” -TAK! TAK! TAK! Would sound off and each security guard were shot and killed by setup machine gun turrets.- “Everyone remain calm!” –Steph by now would notice that the fire alarm was cut and unable to signal the outside world. The museum windows were barred to prevent cat burglars and vandalism. The Museum was a large trap that required particular resources to obtain such a trap. Tim and Ives were just walking towards the Aquarium when the sound of gunfire drew Tim’s attention and Ives dropped to the floor.- ‘Oh gosh! That sounded like gunfire! I need to contact Batman…but I can’t with Ives here!” <c>
Tim Drake: -Tim grabbed Ives and then pulled out his batarangs.- “Listen, Ives. Keep a look out…I need to take out those security cameras.” –Ives raised an eyebrow.- “With what?” “Uh…um…A Sling shot…Just keeps your head down. The cameras might shatter with glass everywhere.” –Ives rolled his eyes and then listened as Tim’s eyes narrowed onto the first camera. Tim hurled the batarang causing it to slash through the plastic frame breaking the wiring inside. The batarang swung across the room and slashed into another camera before returning to Tim. He would hurl the batarang again and cut two more.- “Got them! Okay, Ives I need you to take cover in the bathroom, don’t touch anything and…”
<c>
Tim Drake: -Tim’s gaze would shift to the hallway where footsteps were approaching.- “Come on!” –Tim grabbed Ives and pulled him into the bathroom.- “Ives stay here and don’t go anywhere…” “What are you going to do?” “I’m…I’m going to try getting help.” “No way, I’m going with you.” “Ives, trust me. I need you to stay here. Read all my comic books. When you’re done, take my stuff to your house. I’ll get it later. I just need a few things from my bag…” –Finally Ives agreed and waited for Tim to suit up as Red Robin. Leaving before Ives could see Tim dressed as the Boy Wonder.-
Spoiler: Stephanie ducked into the washroom as soon as she smashed the alarm, skidding to a halt before she’d even reached a cubicle… nothing... no ear shattering alarm... nothing, except a muted sound from outside, a regular tapping, like a sprinkler. This was proving harder than she had ever imagined. The clues outside washed away, the clues inside ignored, everyone oblivious to the danger, it was no wonder the crooks like her dad and the psychos and all kinds of lowlife were so rife in Gotham, no one looked around, no one looked down, she went back to the door peering out. The tapping sound was louder in the hallway.. much louder, more like firecrackers… or… -c-
Spoiler: She ducked back into the washrooms, too late, already, daddy dearest was here already, and the sounds, the firecracker sounds, her stomach lurched, it sounded worse than she’d imagined, he had to be stopped, no matter what, with his sick little rat grin, too late for clues and games, she had to put him down. She ran then into the cubicle, skidding to a halt just inside and bolting the door behind her, changing out of her civilian clothes and into the costume. It felt strange to do this indaylight, strange and terrifying, but the put-put of gunfire pulled at her. As she pulled on the mask. ‘Too late to warn them Steph… but not too late to spoil his plans’. She bundled up her clothes, wrapped them in plastic and stuffed them behind the cistern before heading back out into the hall .–e-
Tim Drake: {R} –Red Robin dashed across the hallway where he saw the gates closed.- ‘These gates an electronic…’ –Red Robin slid the long device off the back of his belt and revealed to fold open in the shape of an “L” his thumbs took control of the device while he pointed the corner at the surrounding area of the gate.- “Come on…Come on…” –Suddenly the device squeaked quietly and the device indicated that it had locked onto a signal of electronic current. Red Robin wanted to jump in cheer but, at any moment goons could be on their way to investigate the broken cameras. He rolled his thumbs over the pads causing the device to unlock the gate. Red Robin slipped the device through to the other side of the gate and then he grabbed the gate to begin picking it up. <c>
Tim Drake: -His arms began tensing and straining as its weight was significant as well Tim was wrestling a difficult angle. Suddenly it would un-jam and slide open enough for him to slip through and close it. Grabbing the Cryptographic sequencer he looked around the aquarium before reaching his map of the museum.- “Security desk is located to the left of the main entrance. I bet however is behind this, THAT is where they’re controlling this whole thing.” ‘I need to search the parameter, find out how many men I’m dealing with. If I can get word to Batman, he’ll know what to do. Cluemaster settled amongst the security room, legs propped up on the desk. The janitors in utility outfits secured the hostages as he stroked his chin, all too much mimicking the Riddler. <c>
Tim Drake: “We got something here. Something broke the cameras…like a cat or something with claws.” “Claws? Well it’s no secret that Catwoman inhabits this city. Perhaps she is attempting her own heist. If you see her I want to talk with her. Until then, keep your eyes open and no one goes anywhere alone. Big Mac…” –Cluemaster called out to one of his men, code named.- “How is that negotiation thing working out?” “It’s almost up boss…” “Good. Proceed to part B of the plan.” “Gotcha sir.” –Part B was the preparation for the escape; half the group of people would be suited as hostages while the remainder would be sneaking out of a decoy loading dock hatch, balcony terrace, and a legitimate sewer exit as the primary escape-{R}
Spoiler: Crouching low, Stephanie darted into the corridor, still quiet, she’d expected there to be more panic by now, but here at least it was empty. She dashed then to the window, peeking nervously over the window sill to see the guns swing lazily sweeping the perimeter of the building. “Daddy.. you rat” she hissed “There are children in here, lots and lots of children.” She slumped down with her back to the wall. ‘With any luck one of those gungs will catch you between the eyes, Daddy’. Then she noticed the broken cameras. How had that happened Was this part of daddy’s plan? What didn’t he want anyone to see? The thought sent shivers down her spine? The … she hesitated to call him man… he’d put guns outside to shoot anything, adult or child that approached or tried to leave. –c-
Spoiler: She stood up to take a closer look, the casings smashed wires hanging loose, cut not shot? Maybe someone else was here? Where would Daddy be? She thought back to home, the creep slouched on the couch with the tube flickering in his g_dawful face ‘til all hours of the night, the scrapbooks, the moldering VHS tapes of Daddy when he’s been somebody, when people had known him .. for something other than this. Daddy will be where the TVs are! She set of at a run, just as a tall gangly blond boy started to ease his way out of the boys washroom, she barreled into the door knocking him back inwards “Stay IN! Stay DOWN!” –e-
Tim Drake: {R}-Ives would fall over and scream.- “Don’t SHOOT ME! I HAD TO GO TO THE BATHROOM! PLEASE DON’T SHOOT ME!!!” –The kid tried to appear as if he was crying. Holding up Tim’s bookbag as a method of defense and barrier between Spoiler and him. Meanwhile Red Robin walked along the catwalk above the museum- ‘Thank god for large dinosaurs…up here I can stay out of the way and take a head count.’ –Red Robin walked further spotting four men walking around patrolling, gathering hostages, he saw a couple of men moving a few more hostages.- ‘They’re gathering everyone up…typical strategy.’ –Red Robin spotted more security cameras that he would quickly arm his cryptographic sequencer and shut them down.- “Four guys, so far…And at least one in the security room.” <c>
Tim Drake: “What is their end game? What are they planning on doing?” –The looked up and saw a ventilation entrance, he narrowed his eyes and tapped his helmet, activating his detective vision, he took sight at the corridor that the ventilation followed.- “It may be risky…Who knows if he has booby traps in there…” –He jumped up and climbed inside creating a loud rumble as his body weight pressed against the aluminum frame of the vent.-{R}
Spoiler: She spun away from the door as it closed slowly on its pneumatic ram… seeing the tall boy stumble backwards,, books held high as if he thought she were attacking him, she turned to continue to run but something held her a moment and before it closed she found herself speaking gently “You’ll be ok, get in a cubicle, stand on the seat, and don’t say a word… to anyone. “ She turned to leave and then found herself turning back “AND keep this door CLOSED!” and she was running again, the corridors were too open, as she darted past cases of exhibits, scurrying as low as she could until she reached the main hall. –c-
Spoiler: A huge skeleton of a diplodocus hung in the main hall suspended on a steel frame hung n steel wires, she could wish to be higher, the view was poor, but she daren’t expose her position more. It wasn’t meant to be like this, a few clues to alert the authorities and then daddy, the rat, would be caught and it would all be just another bad dream. Now there were guns, God knows how many people shot, hurt, maybe dying… maybe dead… who knew… except the one man who deserved to be. She bit her lip. Peering out into the hall, men, lots of them, armed, rounding up the children, most even younger than her. She saw the big stupid one.. Czonk, another one she’d recognised from the apartment when she listened in. Others, she couldn’t quite tell, 4 maybe at least, but no sign of daddy. Where would security be? Near the entrance for quick deployment? Possibly. -c-
Spoiler: High up to get a better overview? Unlikely that’s what the cameras were for… she found herself looking up all the same, almost involuntarily, and there she saw a flash of red, disappearing into darkness. No… security would be near the entrance, and that’s where daddy would be in the centre of his web… and well protected, like a general leading his men ‘From ten miles behind the lines’ she though bitterly, there would be no way to him.. not like that.. not straight on. She had to thin the numbers, even the odds.. tease him out. What had the red been? Another of his men? Not likely they were big lumbering brutes. She watched them pushing grabbing children by the neck, one pushed a girl no more than twelve down the steps towards the main hall, causing her to stumble, fall, her leg twisting awkwardly, tears.. it was all she could do not to call out for them to stop. She ducked back behind the wall. –c-
Spoiler: “Come on Steph.. we need a plan.. he’;s always so good at plans.. maybe you inherited planning too” But deep down she knew she hadn’t. ‘Well… this sucks.’ –e-
Tim Drake: {R} ‘That’s five, six…seven.’ –Tim counted spotting a majority group of men.- ‘Not including our mystery guest controlling the security system. The police should’ve been here by now…’ –Red Robin pulled out his cell phone and saw that there was no signal.- ‘Even if I wanted to call Bruce…I couldn’t. It’s up to you, Tim…Gotta play this one smart…’ –Over the loud speaker a voice broke out from Cluemaster.- “Alright, go ahead and grab DS, MS, LX, and MC.” –The men began walking towards kids in the crowd, grabbing them while aiming their guns at the adults.- “Don’t fucking move or we’ll shoot!” –The men shuffled some as others kept their guns trained. The four children were then escorted by two men, the plan called for these kids to be brought into isolation while the outside man negotiated a deal.-<c>
Tim Drake: ‘I have to find out what is going on with those kids…And their call names…that’s not their real names…What significance do they have?’ –Red Robin climbed out of the ventilation as he thought about the names.-{R}
Spoiler: The PA system crackled overhead and brought her out of her funk, it made no sense, but then that was always Daddy’s style. She peeked around the corner again to see the thugs manhandling the children away guns waving recklessly towards the adults and children alike. It sent a shiver down her spine, guns, how she hated guns. He’d tried to tech her, when she was small, shooting birds with a BB, but it had always sickened her. The cluster f feathers falling, small black star shape on the ground, wings askew and neck bent back, eyes open, always eyes open, she had hated it, guns and death and the black shapes. How she wanted to step forward, to say ‘NO! No more!’ But she knew only too well the kind of men her father led.-c-
Spoiler: The codenames meant nothing, she’d not overheard that part.. she had to find some way to find an advantage… something… anything to reduce the imbalance. She needed to think.. and she needed to see, and so she slipped away, silently climbing the stairs to the next level, catching the framework supporting the domed roof and climbing noiselessly into the roof. The red again? Moving equally silently in the murk. One of her father’s men? If she could take them out one at a time, maybe that could even things up. She climbed higher –e-
Tim Drake: {R} –Spoiler was busy staring at the scene below that she wouldn’t realize a set of eyes watching her for a moment. Red Robin landed behind her his cape flapping upon hitting the edges of the platform of the catwalk. He was too late to sneak up on her, but Red Robin would smile.- “I never was a fan of Phantom of the Opera…Guess *you’re* the mastermind.” –Red Robin swung his boot aiming to kick Spoiler.- “Eat rubber!” –Red Robin called out swinging his leg to kick her in the stomach, if he was successful, he would using the advantage to spin and karate chop at her neck and shoulder joint. The noise from both of their rattling would no doubt stir the attention of the men below as they look up to see the two vigilantes coming to blows with each other.-<C>
Tim Drake: “Clue-mister…” “Clue…MASTER.” –Cluemaster corrected the goon with frustration in his voice while he was working the security systems that were failing. “What is it?” “We got…um. That Batman-Kid and some…guy in a pink hood.” “Well, clearly I didn’t hire them on this job. Take care of them both.” –{R}
Spoiler: She paused at the highmost catwalk crouching low so as not to be seen. The flash of red was around somewhere.. not daddy, he was ensconced in the dark somewhere under his rock, one of his goons? Too slick for that. The clang behind her was light when it came… whoever it was, they were good, or light, or both she stood as she began to turn, swinging her cape to distract whoever it was. ‘Mastermind? Not one of daddy’s men if they thought she was … maybe they could be of some help’ She opened her mouth to whisper, but ‘What’s that? rubber?’ She was still wondering about that when her assailant’s foot connected with her stomach, sending her down to the metal catwalk and back to the railings, with a much larger clang than before, as the wind was driven out of her before she could utter a word. –c-
Spoiler: It was hard catching her breath, red, it was the red figure, small, no taller than she was herself, but he packed a mean kick, red and black fluttered in front of her as she fought to regain her strength, gasping for air. Loutish voices below ‘Oh g_d they’ve heard us’ she tried to push herself up but he was coming again. –e-
Batman: {R} –Robin swung to hit her when a bullet sparked against his armor.- “Whoa!” –The boy wonders voice squealed out like an amateur. Red Robin grabbed Spoiler by the collar and pulled her to follow him. As they slipped through a doorway into another room, the catwalk proceeding into an Egyptian themed room. The goons began shuffling, rushing down a hallway to intercept them. Red Robin would attempt to push Spoiler into the railing where he would swing his fist aiming to punch her in the stomach, following the first strike he would try to punch her across the face with a right-hook his face was trying to seem tough, he had to make up for the fact Batman was away doing Justice League stuff. Protecting Gotham was on his shoulders, for at least a few days. Tim had to stay strong, hold out for as long as he could. There was no way this guy would get the better of him.- {R}
Spoiler: He was little but he pulled her up with uncanny ease, pulled her after him equally easily. They tumbled through the door into the next room, and as they cannoned off a sarcophagus she fought to gain some kind of hold on him. He was unreal, he seemed to know in advance every move she was going to make. He was slick, rolling out of her attempts to hold him as another blow caught her in the stomach ‘Owwww, this really hurts.’ He was slick and fast and tough for his size and she knew she was losing. ‘He’s Robin isn’t he? It has to be? He’s SO FAST! Maybe someone had seen the clues after all?’ She fought like a wild cat, flailing more in hope than in belief, her elbow catching his forearm just in time to deflect a right hook from connecting with her jaw and suddenly she found she had some kind of grip on him. Their feet tangled and she was going down again, and this time she felt like she had him, that he seemed to be going down too, and likely to land on top of her –e-
Batman: {R} –He swung ducking and dodging her attacks, her flailing maneuvers would be met by his wrists and palm shuffling her blows away from his face and body. It was then they fell off the catwalk and fell onto a third floor exhibit, where they continued to wrestle.- ‘He’s tireless. He keeps coming back. And his chest feels weird, almost like jello or…OH MY GOSH!’ –Red Robin took stance preparing for another bout of fighting when he realized Spoiler was a girl and his face began blushing.- “You’re a girl?“ –Red Robin cleared his throat.- ‘I touch her…Oh gosh, I hope dad doesn’t kill me…Or Bruce ground me.’ –Red Robin’s attention was taken away as gunshots shattered glass exhibits around Spoiler and Robin causing statues to break a part and collapse onto the ground, Red Robin ducked behind the sarcophagus while bullets sparked against the gold frame.-{R}
Spoiler: Stephanie rolled behind the sarcophagus with him and finally gathered enough breath to speak “Well DUH!” Maybe this wasn’t Robin? surely he’d be smart enough to have figured that out sooner? She squatted behind the sarcophagus with him a moment catching her breathe some more and then spotting the door behind them she flicked out a kick between his legs “And that’s for groping me!” Then she was turning and pulling on the handle… she’d contacted with something, she hoped it hurt too after those blows to her stomach. It opened, looked clear she rolled through and was running again. ‘Hmph! so much for the Boy Wonder’. She jumped, caught a beam and flipped up into the roof space ‘He can deal with the bullets’. But almost as soon as she thought it, she was beginning to regret the thought. –e-
Batman: {R} “Ow!” –he said as she beat him up with no retaliation given to her.- “I wasn’t…touching you…like *that*! It was just a shove.” –He grumbled when she slipped away, his eyes opened to see how fast she moved out of the way, it was then two goons surrounded Robin.- “Gotcha!” “Ever wanted to see what the inside of a brain looked like, Boy wonder?” –Red Robin glared at the men and snarked back at them.- “No. But I’m sure there isn’t much inside your brain!” –Robin brought his teeth to bear at the man as they were prepared to shoot him.- “Where’d your pink friend run off to?” –Red Robin scoffed.- “She’s not my partner.” ‘Shut up you idiot, gosh, I’m still thinking about that GIRL…I gotta get her out of my head or it’ll get me killed!’{R}
Spoiler: She squatted in the rafters a moment. He wasn’t following. She hadn’t kicked him that hard. He should be out of there by now. ‘Climb Steph! Get away from there’ ‘He should be out here by now’ ‘Leave him, what kind of boy kicks a girl in the stomach?’ Holding onto the rafter she dropped down silently and edged back to the door. Voices, they had him. She found herself reaching out, fingers trembling as she took the handle, and then she slammed it open rolled in behind it, hoping the noise would be a distraction, long enough to get her bearings at least, and hoping not to roll in front of a gun –e-
Batman: {R} ‘Loud banging?’ –The two men aimed their guns, foolishly to begin firing at the banging caused by Spoiler. Red Robin’s eyes widened.- ‘They’re trying to kill her!’ –Red Robin pulled puddy from his belt and threw it into the face of one goon, before dropping onto his hands and kicking the other goon in the stomach and slashed his chin with the heel of his boot. Red Robin jumped to his feet and kicked the blinded goon towards the railing, also disarming him in the process. Robin spun on his heels reaching to his belt pouch just above his butt to pull out his extending staff, pressing a switch the staff increased in length allowing his spin to whack the goon across the face before slamming the man into a statue. Both men fell onto the floor unconscious, as Robin turned to look at the rafters.- ‘I hope she’s alright…but if she’s not with them, who is she?’ {R}
Spoiler: By the time she stopped rolling they were down, and crying out in pain and fear, maybe it was Robin after all? She’d rolled behind the sarcophagus and now she peeped around the side, she could see him a little more clearly, but not for long there would be more men soon. She found herself smiling as he looked up into the rafters. He was cute, cute lips. He must have thought she went up there. Cute. Tough as nails, smart too, but kind of not so smart about somethings too. No that was unfair.. naïve maybe. She crawled out from behind the casing low enough not to be seen from the walkway and beckoning to him to follow her. “Come on handsome. We need to get out of here before the rest pile in.” And this time running out into the corridor and leaping for the rafters, there was no guilt pulling her back. –e-
Batman: {R} –Red Robin didn’t have his hair exposed, however; his ripe red lips and a youthful chin could be seen. His red tunic made his body appear muscular as it was pushed out in the right places where his abs and breasts were toned. His voice was the primary thing that displayed his youth, ranging somewhere between 14 and 16 years old, biologically; he had just turned 16 only a few months ago. He heard Spoiler’s voice call out to him and he blinked before his blue eyes widened.- “Whoa, wait…Who are these guys? Do you know what’s going on here?” –Red Robin picked up the guns and quickly pulled out the springs to the guns and then placed them in his belt pouches. He followed her crouching down and speaking softly as if trying to be sneaky.-{R}
Spoiler: She turned and watched as he followed leaping after her once they were away from the room. She noticed he’d brought the guns, but couldn’t help hoping he wouldn’t use them. She reached out a hand to help him into the rafters with her, but he didn’t need it and in an instant he was beside her. She couldn’t understand why but she found herself smiling under her mask. “Honestly, most of them I don’t know. They’re men my da…… the Cluemaster has put together. I know the big lunk by the main door, the one that looks like a tank… that’s Czonk. He’s an idiot,,, the rest? Gun’s for hire as far as I know. Hopefully no brighter.“ She watched him “You don’t have any clue what’s going on? No one sent you? Good grief… did anyone even look at my clues?” she though back to the lobby, the scribbles outside being washed away. “All I know is there are people here, he wants to kidnap. But I don’t know who.” –e-
Batman: {R} –Listening to her speak, he slanted his right eye skeptically at her.- “Clues? Who are you?” –Red Robin leaned closer to her face as if trying to glimpse through her bright white eyes, when the voice caught his attention.- “God damn it…I tell you guys not to do something stupid and you think I’m joking? Do you guys want to make money or spend 5 years in prison?” –Red Robin turned to look back at her.- “Cluemaster?”-He said blinking not realizing how close he was to her face. His voice remained quiet, whispering. Cluemaster’s voice was echoing from a radio on a goons belt.- “Boss, we got the kids rounded up.” “Good. Finally good news, start setting the explosives in the aquarium.” –Red Robin’s eyes widened hearing those words.- “Ives…He’s in the bathroom by the Aquarium. ”{R}
Spoiler: She didn’t answer, she didn’t know who she was, just who she didn’t want to be. He was so close, even through the mask she could feel his breath, oh gosh, she tried to catch her breath, was it the fear, the strain of still recovering from the kick, the punch. The thought of it made her feel like kicking him between the legs again. Then as he asked about the Cluemaster she turned and finally nodded ‘yep that’s daddy alright’ she thought though it made her sick to her stomach to think of it. At Robin’s words concerning the bathroom by the aquarium? “Ives? Tall blond geeky boy? I told him to stay put and hide!” –e-
Tim Drake: {R} –Red Robin’s eyes opened as she explained that she met Ives.- “I told him to stay put too…Come on, we gotta help him.” –He swiftly dashed off running towards an edge he leaped into the air reaching to grab hold of a frame hanging from the ceiling, his gloves gripping onto it as his legs swept under his body and he front flipped forward , spinning twice before his feet hit the ground and he was crouching like an acrobat. He rolled immediately upon hitting the ground and bounced to his feet to run down the empty hallway, parallel to the route the goons were taking. By the time they arrived, they would see the goons already planting explosives on the water tanks. Red Robin stopped by an archway where he peered around the corner to observe.- “I took out the cameras already. They shouldn’t know we’re coming.” {R}
Spoiler: He was gone practically before he’d finished his sentence, and before she could reply, the leap to the frame was too far to follow and by the time she’d reached the ground she was already several paces behind, racing after him, finding she was thinking of other things than stopping ad.. like when his cape swung as he rang he looked kind of… toned. Her heart was still racing, she’d wanted to stop daddy so much, been so afraid of what could happen, of facing him alone knowing the monster he was… she hadn’t counted on help… she hadn’t counted on Robin showing up… on him being kind of cute… on actually having fun. –c-
Spoiler: She was still thinking that and watching his behind when she realized he’d stopped to watch the thugs. She skidded to a halt, bumping into him rather firmly ‘See Steph, its not just appearances, he’s taut‘ She leant against his back one hand resting on one of his shoulders, her chin on the other as she peered over it and watched with him. ‘Big guys, more guns, big guns… and… big bombs.’ She felt sick again at the realization her father was behind all this, and she leaned a little more firmly against Robin “What’re we going to do, Bird Boy?’ she whispered close to his ear. –e-
Tim Drake: {R} ‘They’re using C-4…There are other kinds of explosives they could use and get the same effect. C-4 creates a loud resonating sound. What are they planning, aside from turning the entire museum into a lake?’ –Red Robin thought to himself as he felt Spoiler touching him, he didn’t notice it or seem to care as his attention was focused on being a detective.- “They’re using explosives, if we go in there now, they could blow us all up…I’m thinking about disarming them. They have to leave first, and Ives can’t be stupid.” –Robin looked at her with a glance over his shoulder, not seeming to notice her still lingering her black face onto his shoulder.- “C-4 has a few metal plugs put into it, all we have to do is pull out the electrical wiring and we’ll disarm it. If I show you, think you can help me do it?” <c>
Tim Drake: -Red Robin looked around the room again.- “Hmm…They did their planning, that’s for sure. The Aquarium is the most isolated part of the entire building. It runs directly into Gotham’s East bay, at least 30 miles of ocean along the coast…” –Red Robin explained to her and slightly to himself. For some reason he felt like he was narrating a story for readers to follow along with, shaking the thought from his head.- {R}
Spoiler: Stephanie continued leaning on him, ‘So what was daddy up to?’ she could feel her heartbeat as she pressed against his back. “So let’s try and reason this out? It was today because of the school trip… and the children he wanted to kidnap would be here together? The aquarium? Runs into the bay … so presumably the exit is intended to be by boat? The bombs…?” She shuddered at the thought…and all the other children... the children he DIDN’T want. And…. what was going to happen when word got out? For the moment they were still isolated, just the two of them against daddy and his goons… it was quiet now… but what happens when the SWAT teams get here? The bombs looked awfully large. –e-
Tim Drake: {R} –Tim listened to her speak, he thought for a moment.- ‘She’s drawing conclusions out of thin air…So far, there is *nothing* to support that this is happening because of the school trip…Still, she’s at least trying harder than you are right now!’ –Red Robin stroked his chin.- “I’m not sure this is because of the class trip. He…Who’s ‘He’?” –Red Robin was becoming confused, to him the voice of Cluemaster was nothing more than another henchman. To Spoiler it was the voice of Stephanie Brown’s father, the mastermind behind this whole event, needless to say, the boy wonder was beginning to get skeptical of her, but he really didn’t have anything to pin her with other than jumping to conclusions with no supporting facts.-{R}
Spoiler: Stephanie paused a moment, the last thing she wanted to do was talk about him, she’d spent enough time, more than enough time talking about the creep, ten times too much time looking at him, even with the years he’d spent locked up. A million times too much time putting up with eth wreckage he’d wrought on mom, on everyone. She pulled away taking a step back, her hands clasped to prevent herself from fidgeting, her head lowered. “He’s Arthur Brown, sometimes called ‘The Cluemaster’. I don’t know if you’re heard of him, he’s been out of the way for a while, maybe he’s even small enough to be below your radar, but he’s a big enough rat to have hurt a lot of people and ruined a lot of lives.” She wanted to look up but she found she couldn’t meet Robin’s gaze. It wasn’t… she knew it wasn’t her fault who he was, where she came from… but she couldn’t help but feel the shame of him. –e-
Batman: {R} -Red Robin looked at her as she placed her head down, analyzing her. Red Robin was a bit taken back by her actions now, but he couldn’t help thinking about Batman. He was a brute, his objective was to scare criminals and coerce them from a life of crime. Physically beating them up, ruining their plans, sabotaging their organized plots. He wasn’t good at moments like this, Bruce’s reaction would probably be something like “Your personal life ends the moment you put on the suit.” But, that was unrealistic. Bruce and Batman know that it is unrealistic. Robin’s role in Batman’s life is to fill in and make up for the ‘flaws’ in Batman…or at least that was the objective of *this* Robin.’ –Red Robin placed his hand on Spoiler’s shoulder and bicep, allowing her to feel a gentle touch.- “Hey…There’s no doubt he’s a bad man…We’ll stop him.” <c>
Batman: “And when we do stop him, I’m sure whatever pain he’s caused you and your family…at least the chapter will be closed…” –He smiled at her to reassure her this was going to end in a good light.-{R}
Spoiler: Stephanie raised her head at his touch grateful for the reassurance, feeling the shame lift a little, at least she was trying, trying to prevent him wreaking more destruction, on more… he hesitated a moment… on more innocents. It did help… Robin’s smile, and she found herself beginning to smile again too as she had when they were running. “We’ll spoil his plans, and make sure he doesn’t hurt anyone else.” She wondered if Robin could tell she was smiling underneath her mask. “I followed him” she stopped again “…I followed him last night, tried to listen, but I didn’t find out enough, all I know is that he intended to kidnap some ‘brats’ here ... today. I had hoped to leave some clues to try and warn people, to give them some idea what was happening, but either they went unnoticed or they weren’t helpful. They were stupid anyway…” She almost laughed a moment, a sharp exhale and a quick inhale partway between a laugh and a sob. “I’m kind of new to all this.” –e-
Batman: {R}-Red Robin smirked at her attempts to signal others.- “Well, that’s a relief, at least I’m not the *only* one new to this.’ –Red Robin placed his hand on his hip and spoke.- “Don’t worry, it takes practice. You’ll get the swing of things.” –His face then changed into a sober expression.- “But first we gotta stop these creeps…” –He turned to look around the corner as the men began finishing up their bombs they picked up their radios.- “Alright. Charges set. Start bringing in the people.” Cluemaster: “Good, make sure they are locked in the gates, seal the gate with an explosive.” “Got it.” –The men quickly shuffled out of the room, and Robin waved for her to follow at which point he rushed into the first bomb and began showing her.- “See these prongs? Just…” –He pulled out the electric plugs and pocketed them into his belt.- “Just like that. Without the electrical charge, they won’t explode.” <c>
Batman: -Red Robin looked at her and smiled.- “It looks like they have quite a few…just. Look around and disarm as many as you can…” –He walked over to another bomb and began defusing it.- “So …Uh…Red hood…er-uh…PINK hood…Hm. We gotta work on a name for you, don’t we Spoiler-girl?” {R}
Spoiler: She watched very carefully as he indicated the electrical connections, as he pulled them out, it looked easy “ I can do that “ and she started in the opposite direction, here was another, she began to pull out the connections. “I’m not to keen on pink hood… it sounds kind of… wrong, besides it was meant to be magenta. “ she moved over to another of the bombs. “I made it myself you know? I’m kind of wishing I’d gone for something darker though, more like a purple or… or an aubergine... you know? Eggplant?” She tucked the electric plugs into her pouch. “Don’t you ever worry about the bright colours? Am I babbling?” She began to scout around for another of the bombs “Is it ok to leave them here even without the... these things” she crouched down at another of the bombs. “I kind of like that other thing you said. Spoiler-girl… ‘cause of the double meaning. Trying to do those clues about what he was going to do… and to spoil it” –c-
Spoiler: Spoiler: Her brow furrowed. “Probably should have just called the cops or something huh? Instead of trying to be all clever and leave clues. I’m not sure I like the ‘girl’ part. It’s not like I’m little anymore. How about...Spoiler? THE Spoiler? Naahh, just Spoiler” –e-
Batman: {R}“Hmm...I think the bright colors aren’t that bad. Maybe a bit darker…You want to be approachable sometimes. That’s Batman’s problem. He’s *never* approachable.” –Red Robin disarmed a couple more throughout their brief conversation. Once he was done he arrived at her and looked around.- “I think we got them all…I’ll get Ives.” –Red Robin walked towards the bathroom opening the door and spoke.- “Hey, Ives. Come on out. We gotta get you out of here. Your-…uh…Friend, Tim said you can trust us.” -Ives stepped out and looked at both of them.- “Is it safe?” –Red Robin shook his head.- “No. But coming with us is the safest thing we can do. They placed bombs.” –Ives’ expression was filled with surprise.- <c>
Batman: -Red Robin held his hand up.- “Just keep quiet. We disarmed most of them.” –Red Robin turned to Spoiler and spoke.- “Have you found any way to get out of this place? And do you know how many goons we’re up against?” {R}
Spoiler: Those were kind of obvious questions, she really should have thought of them.. particularly about a way out, why hadn’t she thought of that? “I kind of hoped people wouldn’t come in, I hadn’t thought about how to get back out. There’s so many people here now too, we can’t get them all out, not on the sly.” She paused feeling kind of foolish. “And… I don’t know how many there are of them, I overheard four at the meeting, but they were expecting more, I’ve seen ummm seven, maybe eight, around the place. So including da….” she winced “including da Cluemaster” ouch that sounded phony, “that’s at least 9. Cluemaster won’t be putting himself on the line though, he’ll be sitting on a throne twiddling his fingers and watching his minions.” She gestured towards the disabled camera “where he can.” –e-
Batman: {R} –Red Robin stroked his chin listening to this new information.- ‘Think, Tim! Start acting like a Robin. Come up with *something!*’ –Red Robin looked over the ceiling and smirked.- “We took down three of them…Assuming there are 9…that only leaves six. Planting explosives in here, we saw three men, that means three others are watching the hostages…We missed our opportunity to strike them in separate numbers…We gotta find those kids they split from the group.” –Red Robin pointed towards Ives.- “First objective is the isolated hostages. Spoiler, you’re going to keep these guys chasing shadows while Ives gets the hostages. If you get into a trouble, let me know.” –Red Robin pulled off his belt a communication device that he handed to Spoiler.- “Speak and I will hear you. It has a tracking device in it. I’ll find you.” –Red Robin turned his head to Ives.- “You and I will get the isolated hostages.”<c>
Batman: -Red Robin looked between both of them and inquired.- “Everyone understand their roles?” ‘I hope this works…I’m not Batman, I can’t form a plan together like he can…but this is the best thing I can do given the situation…Gosh I hope I’m doing the right thing.’ {R}
Spoiler: She nodded taking the communicator slightly greedily ‘oh my gosh, actual bat tech’ she caught herself wanting to hold onto it tight, like Gollum’s precious ring, and looked up at Robin rather sheepishly. “Got it, Skip!” She rolled up her mask then just up to her nose so that she could reach under to slip the earpiece into her ear, long blonde hair slipping out from underneath her mask, she hurriedly tucked it back in again, pulling the mask again down over her mouth. “I’ll see you boys later.” She turned as if to run, but paused a moment pressing her finger to her ear “Testing?” she started to walk away from them “Ives, stay close to him.” Slowly picking up speed as rushed away … hoping for Robin’s response, the reassurance of his voice. –e-
Batman: {R} “I got -- ^you.” –Red Robin’s voice spoke, and suddenly cracked, causing his cheeks to suddenly blush underneath his cowl. Ives smirked for a moment.- “Is she your girlfriend?” –Red Robin’s face turned sour.- “Shut up…She’s not my girlfriend.” –Ives then smirked.- “I wonder if she’s got a boyfriend…” –Robin began rushing down the hallway.- “Come on.” ‘Oh how embarrassing. Of all the times for my voice to break down. Now I got Ives trying to hook up with a strange vigilante girl. She could be ugly…like…really ugly. Girls in Gotham aren’t pretty…except the ones Bruce dates. But they’re like too old. 20’s and 30 years old…’ –Red Robin’s attention snapped to a group of goons walking into a room where he saw the hostages isolated from the main group.- “Shh. Follow me…” <c>
Batman: -Ives and Robin ducked behind a pillar and glanced around to see two men watching the hostages aiming their guns at the kids.- “Here’s the plan…” –Red Robin pulled out his bow staff.- “You stay here. Follow in after I take out both men.” –Red Robin stormed around the corner without waiting confirmation from Ives. Red Robin leaped at the first goon crushing their cheek with the edge of his staff, Red Robin’s body and weight wasn’t heavy enough to knock the goon over like Batman could, however; the crackling of the man’s face forced him to tumble while giving Robin a solid body to kick off of and back flip. His cape spread open as he landed while twirling his staff to slap the gun away from the second goon. Twirling the front end of the staff towards the ceiling, the back end swung up and upper cut the goon’s chin clacking his jaw and throwing him backwards.- {R}
Spoiler: She was running now as she finally heard is voice, as it cracked, she wondered if that was his voice or the connection she slowed and held her ear, his voice came through loud and clear “…she’s not my girlfriend!” She started to pick up pace again smiling. ‘Maybe… maybe not Bird Boy!’ She was still thinking of Robin when she nearly ran into the open in the main hallway, catching her thoughts at the last minute only as she saw the giant skeleton. She skidded to a halt, grateful her boots didn’t squeak too loudly. The skeleton was awfully tempting, what she wouldn’t give right now for a batarang to cut the cables suspending it. She peered around the corner two more of dad’s men pushing the last of the ‘unwanted kids into the crying shivering crowd in the main hall. She felt her blood beginning to boil again. Two down there with the children, dad in security, three more somewhere, at least, and suddenly she knew where one was as he climbed the stairs from the main hall to the walkway on which she stood. Czonk… the Baffler, at least he was an idiot. She took off at pace, reaching him before the barrel of his gun raised even to waist height, her foot contacting with his forehead just as his finger, tangled in a piece of paper reflexively pulled on the trigger. –c-
Spoiler: Czonk went down hard, and she landed on his chest, not heavily enough to wind him. The shot did more than she’d hoped hitting the mounting of one of the cables supporting the skeleton and causing the end of the skeleton to drop suddenly and very loudly. Czonk was trying to raise up again beneath her, but a knee to the jaw sent him back down. The noise was loud both the shot and the collapse of the skeleton, it had attracted attention, what was that paper the brute’s finger was poking through as he’d tried to fumble for the trigger, she tore it from his hand as the bullets began to fly again. ‘Doodles? What the?’ She tried to decipher them as she ran –e-